CHIANG MAI – At least ten students from Chiang Mai University (CMU) fell victim to sophisticated call centre scams in just one day, with losses amounting to millions of baht. The surge in fraud cases during the recent long holiday (May 31–June 2) has prompted urgent warnings from both the university and local law enforcement.

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One male student was duped into transferring over 2 million baht across four transactions after scammers presented forged documents, including fake university letters bearing CMU faculty letterheads and a counterfeit signature of the institution’s rector. The fraudsters maintained control through continuous video calls over two days, pressuring the victim and his family. The student’s mother revealed that portions of the money were borrowed before all contact with the scammers abruptly ceased.

In another alarming case, a female student was manipulated into wearing headphones and carrying a knife while being directed to a police station. Alert officers intervened upon noticing her distressed behavior, confiscating the weapon and preventing further escalation.

Pol Col Manatchai Inthean, superintendent of Bhubing Rajanives Police Station, explained that the scams rely on psychological coercion, with perpetrators using threats, blackmail, and fabricated scenarios to exploit victims. While academically adept, many students lack real-world experience, making them vulnerable to such schemes.

Ten students at Chiang Mai University (CMU) were scammed in a single day, with reported losses totalling several million baht, prompting CMU and local police to issue a warning.

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Among the ten reported cases, five involved direct call centre operations. Other tactics included impersonation of government officials, fraudulent scholarship offers, fake part-time job postings, and online purchase scams. Authorities have frozen related bank accounts and are tracing transactions, though recovery efforts remain partial.

The family of the student who lost 2 million baht identified a linked bank account and phone number but reported no progress, as the account holder awaits a police summons. CMU has clarified that there is no evidence of a systemic data breach, describing the incidents as isolated.

The university is collaborating with police to bolster awareness during student orientation programs. However, experts stress that combating these scams demands a coordinated national response involving telecom providers, banks, and law enforcement to implement stricter safeguards.

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Students and families are urged to exercise extreme caution, verifying any unsolicited requests for money or personal information through official channels before compliance.

-Thailand News (TN)